The correct spelling of the phrase "wert obliged" is actually "wert obliged." In this archaic phrase, "wert" is the second person singular past form of "be," and "obliged" means "indebted or grateful." The pronunciation of "wert" is /wət/, while "obliged" is pronounced /əˈblaɪdʒd/. Although modern English does not use "wert" much, it is still found in some literary or poetic works. Proper understanding of archaic language can help in appreciating literary works from different periods.
The phrase "wert obliged" is derived from Old English and Middle English origins.
To understand its etymology, we can break down the two main components:
1. "Wert": It is the archaic second-person singular past form of the verb "be" in Middle English. It originated from the Old English word "wurðe", meaning "became" or "were". Over time, it evolved into "wast" or "wert" to represent the second-person singular past tense form of "be". This form is mostly associated with Early Modern English or Shakespearean language.
2. "Obliged": It is the past participle of the verb "oblige", which came into English from the Latin root "obligare", meaning "to bind or tie". In Middle English, it was spelled as "obligen" or "obligeen".